Oral history interview with Raymond M. Whipple, [sound recording], 2005.

ArchivalResource

Whipple, Raymond M., 1920-2009,. Oral history interview with Raymond M. Whipple, [sound recording], 2005.

Oral history interview with Raymond M. Whipple, [sound recording], 2005.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/772451850

Raymond M. Whipple, a Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin native, discusses his experiences in the 101st Airborne Division in the European Theater of World War II. Whipple touches on growing up in a large family, running away from home at age fourteen, getting married, and in 1942, being drafted into the Army. Assigned to be a paratrooper, he speaks of walking from Camp Claiborne (Louisiana) to Fort Benning (Georgia), paratrooper and glider training, getting leave when his wife was in the hospital, and his first jump. Whipple details riding an English troop ship to England, receiving field training in preparation for the invasion of France, and jumping into France at midnight on D-Day. He recalls fighting in the hedgerows and earning a silver star by taking out some enemy machine guns and an 88 millimeter gun that had his company pinned down. After three weeks of combat, he talks about the reorganization of his unit in England and jumping into Holland after their plane was damaged. Whipple explains why his unit refused to jump in front of British troops. He describes securing the Nijmegen bridge, taking cover from heavy artillery attack in an orchard, and being wounded in the arm. After three days in his foxhole, Whipple was transported to a field hospital and eventually to a war hospital in Spokane (Washington). He addresses his recovery, several leaves at home, and reporting for duty at Miami Beach (Florida). After passing an IQ test, Whipple mentions learning Japanese at the FBI Center at Camp Ritchie (Maryland), the promotion freeze after the war ended, and duty as a parade ground instructor at Camp Croft (South Carolina) until his discharge. After the war, he talks about his work in shipyards and on farms, his inability to get a GI loan due to lack of collateral, and eventually coming to own a farm in Door County (Wisconsin). Whipple reflects on the Army's tendency to lie and tells of being refused a membership spot in the local American Legion post.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassettes (ca. 55 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 1 sound cassettes (ca. 55 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 18 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center